Fire Stopping & Passive Fire Protection Compliance for UK Buildings

At J.S.O Fire Safety Consultants we provide comprehensive fire compartmentation surveys to help ensure your building meets the highest standards of fire safety and passive fire protection. Our fire engineers deliver expert surveys designed to assess, document, and report on the condition of your fire barriers, fire stopping measures, and structural fire protection systems.

If you manage or own a commercial, industrial, healthcare, residential, or educational property, verifying the integrity of your fire compartmentation is essential to achieving compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and demonstrating compliance with UK Building Regulations.

What Is a Fire Compartmentation Survey?

A fire compartmentation survey is a detailed inspection of a building’s fire-resisting structure to confirm that compartment walls, floors, ceilings, service risers, and voids will prevent the spread of smoke and fire. This type of survey validates the effectiveness of fire stopping installations and other passive fire protection systems, helping to keep occupants safe and buildings legally compliant.

Key components we check include:

• Fire-resisting walls, floors, and ceilings

• Service penetrations including cables, ductwork, and pipework

• Fire collars, wraps, batt systems, and sealants

• Access panels, risers, and ceiling voids

• Compartment lines and boundary walls

• Structural fire protection for steelwork and load-bearing elements

Our surveys provide photographic evidence, digital floor-by-floor reporting, and prioritised recommendations for remedial works.

Why Is Fire Compartmentation So Important?

Fire compartmentation is a fundamental part of passive fire protection. Correctly installed and maintained barriers prevent fire and smoke from spreading, contain fire to its area of origin, and protect escape routes. This gives occupants valuable time to evacuate and allows the Fire Service to respond safely.

Poorly installed or damaged fire stopping is one of the most common reasons for non-compliance found in UK fire audits. Our fire compartmentation surveys are designed to identify these failures before they place lives at risk or lead to enforcement action from Building Control or fire authorities.

Who Needs a Fire Compartmentation Survey?

You should consider commissioning a fire compartmentation survey if you:

• Manage hospitals, healthcare facilities, care homes, or HMOs

• Operate schools, universities, or educational estates

• Have recently undertaken building, refurbishment, or service installation works

• Cannot verify the current condition of fire stopping or fire barriers

• Need compliance evidence for insurers, Building Control, or the Fire Service

• Are updating your fire risk assessment and require technical support

Our Process

• Pre-survey review of available drawings or fire strategy documents

• Visual, non-intrusive inspection of risers, voids, plant rooms, and service runs

• Identification of fire stopping breaches, poor workmanship, or missing fire protection

• Photographic evidence with floor location tagging

• Delivery of a detailed Fire Compartmentation Survey Report

• Prioritised recommendations for remedial action

• Optional re-inspection to confirm compliance after corrective works

Fire Compartmentation Surveys UK-Wide

We conduct fire compartmentation surveys across the UK for a wide range of sectors, including:

• NHS healthcare and hospital estates (in line with HTM guidance)

• Educational institutions: schools, colleges, and universities

• Local authority and social housing providers

• Commercial offices and mixed-use developments

• Industrial and warehousing facilities

• High-rise residential towers and complex developments

Our consultants understand the requirements of Building Regulations, British Standards, HTM guidance, and the expectations of Building Control and Fire Service authorities.

Book Your Fire Compartmentation Survey Today

Whether you require a fire stopping inspection, a full compartmentation audit, or evidence to support your fire risk assessment, J.S.O Fire Safety Consultants can help. We provide professional, practical, and compliant survey reports you can rely on to meet regulatory obligations and protect lives.